adminLONDON. — Seven-time champion Roger Federer will take on close friend Stan Wawrinka in the Wimbledon tennis quarter-finals after both men hurried to victory just in time to watch their native Switzerland tackle mighty Argentina in the World Cup.
But Maria Sharapova joined the list of big-name casualties in the Wimbledon women’s singles when she was beaten 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 in the last 16 by Germany’s Angelique Kerber yesterday.
The below-par Russian fought off six match points in the final set as she tried to keep alive her hopes of a second Wimbledon title to go with her 2004 triumph, but finally succumbed in a nerve-jangling finale.
Both players had been out of action since Saturday, after bad weather meant their fourth-round clash was postponed on Monday, and it was Kerber who was quicker into her stride, leading throughout the first set.
Federer eased into his 12th Wimbledon quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Tommy Robredo, a victory headlined by a perfect second set.
Australian Open champion Wawrinka, the fifth seed, made his first last-eight date at the All England Club at the 10th attempt by seeing off Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (9/7), 6-3.
Federer will start as overwhelming favourite having a 13-2 record over his 2008 Olympic Games gold medal partner.
But Wawrinka won their last encounter on clay at the Monte Carlo Masters final in April and the two have never met on grass.
Federer allowed fellow 32-year-old Robredo just three points off his serve in the first set and then none at all in the second with the 17-time Grand Slam title winner claiming 20 out of 20 points on service.
In all, Robredo won just 14 points on the Federer serve as the Swiss star went level with Boris Becker in joint second place for most match wins at the tournament on 71.
It was Federer’s 11th win in 12 meetings with 23rd seed Robredo and avenged his loss to the Spaniard in the fourth round of the US Open last year.
Federer finished with 11 aces and 41 winners and has still to drop a set in the tournament in marked contrast to 12 months ago when he was knocked out in the second round.
“I am very happy with the way I played today. Tommy got better as the match went on,” said Federer.
“I had a great first week and now I have started the second week well. I’m in another quarter-final and you feel as if you are closer to the finish line. I am serving well, returning well and my movement is good.
“I feel OK on court. I don’t worry about what the Press or the experts might say. My game is right there as long as I don’t have any hiccups or letdowns.”
Federer then turned his attentions to Switzerland’s World Cup second round clash against Lionel Messi’s Argentina later yesterday.
“I might watch it while I am having treatment as I will be so tense,” said Federer.
“I am very excited to see it. I missed it when Switzerland played Ecuador in the opening match because I was playing doubles in Halle.
“I want to see Messi play. We have nothing to lose and I’m sure we will give it a go and see what happens. You never know, that’s why we all watch sport.”
The first set of the Wawrinka/Lopez clash saw the 100th tie-break of the men’s tournament at this year’s Wimbledon — the first time in history that the number of tie-breaks at a Grand Slam has reached triple figures in either the men’s or the women’s event.
The two men were then locked in a heated discussion at the net at the end of the tie although Wawrinka attempted to play down any bad feeling.
“It was nothing big. It was just a few things about the match, he said it wasn’t anything against me,” said Wawrinka. —AFP.
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